The 49-year-old Irishman and leader of the European Liberal Democrat group was elected in a secret ballot on the third round of voting after the first-ever political campaign for the office.

The former television journalist defeated David Martin, a Scottish Socialist, by 298 votes to 237.

Two of the other five candidates – Francis Wurtz, who heads the French far-left GUE group and French Green Gérard Onesta – withdrew after the first round.

But Danish eurosceptic Jens-Peter Bonde surprisingly survived to the third and final round of voting.

At the heart of Cox’s blueprint to create an assembly fit for Europe’s future, the new president is promising livelier debates, reform of MEPs’ expenses and stronger links with the US Congress and the Russian Duma.

Cox, an MEP since 1989, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been elected. It’s a great privilege and I look forward to the many challenges ahead.

“This is an exciting and challenging time for European politics. We need to reconnect our citizens to the European project by ensuring that our institutions operate with greater transparency, efficiency and accountability.

“We need a thorough reform

of our working methods in the European Parliament to reinvigorate our plenary debates and to allow for real political dialogue and facilitate media coverage.

“These challenges demand both a clear vision and an ambitious agenda. As president, I am committed to providing my undivided focus and energy to the good of our institution and its purpose – to serve the citizens of Europe.”

Cox said his background from a small country and small party would send a “powerful message” to smaller applicant countries seeking to join the EU club.

“Enlargement is a priority for our generation of politicians. At the beginning of this year we saw the successful transformation over to the euro. By the end of 2002, we will face the historic challenge of turning the enlargement of the EU into a political reality,” he declared.

Cox, who takes over from France’s Nicole Fontaine for the 30-month presidency, had the backing of the Parliament’s largest group, the 233-strong centre-right European People’s Party.

He had been promised conservative support in this year’s race in return for backing Ms Fontaine at the time of her election two-and-a-half years ago.

As president, Cox will have 15 staff, a chauffeur-driven car and a large travel budget. He will chair debates, help to set the legislative agenda and serve as the Parliament’s public face.

The European Commission led widespread praise for Cox, the son of a watchmaker who speaks Gaelic and French. He “can’t fail to raise the profile of the Parliament in the English-speaking world”, a spokesman said.

Fellow MEP and ELDR vice-president, Karin Riis-Jorgensen, said: “I am sure he will prove to be an excellent president.”

Irish President Mary McAleese described his election as a “historic and significant day for Ireland”.

Personal messages of congratulations continued to pour in for Cox yesterday, including messages from the prime ministers of Belgium and Denmark, Guy Verhofstadt and Anders Fogh Rasmussen. British premier Tony Blair and his Europe minister, Peter Hain, as well as the speaker of the Macedonian parliament, also sent congratulations.

In a statement, the EU’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana offered his “warmest” congratulations. Solana added: “I place great importance on the role and views of the Parliament and on the maintenance of harmonious relations between the assembly and the Council.

“Rest assured that I will do all in my power to ensure that these relations continue to be as fruitful as possible.”